One of those dinners

Posted on 04 Mar 2015 @ 1:45am by Clarence Pearl & Lieutenant JG Grayson Jones

1,785 words; about a 9 minute read

Mission: Episode 07 - Sojourn
Location: USS Galileo - Deck 2, Mess Hall
Timeline: MD45, 21:00

ON:

Clarence sat at the table in the mess, frowning slightly. Was this a date? He wasn't good with dates...no, this was just a meal and a chat. He could do it. He could do it without coming across as a major idiot or insane. Well...okay, maybe he would come across as insane. He sighed, touching the shirt he wore open over the tee shirt with the Chinese symbols for Blue Suns. He wore jeans with it. He hadn't wanted to dress for a proper date, it would be...misleading. He had shaven though. And made sure he smelled nice and that his hair was tamed. Small things. Small steps. He was nervous though. Really effin' nervous.

Not that you could tell by looking at him, Grayson was just as nervous. He was his usual casual attire, smart shoes, dark jeans and a black polo shirt. All his clothing was slim fit, it cut around him in all the right places to show off his hard work at the gym and the pride he took in his appearance. His hair was spiked up a little more than usual and he had dabbed on some of his favourite aftershave. Not only that he had on his 'luck underwear' for good measure.

"Been here long?" Grayson asked as we went to sit down at the table, his usual mask of confidence and charming going up like ships shields as his body went to red alert.

"No...no..." he shook his head and smiled to Grayson, taking a deeper breath. He looked at the menu before back at him. "How...how are you? long day?" he asked, keeping the smile there. He saw that Grayson had dressed up and felt selfconscious that he hadn't. "You...look nice."

"Thank you, so do you," the half Trill returned the compliment as he went to look through the menu himself. "A lot of choice here. How about we start with a drink. Can I get you anything?" At that, he smiled, realising the irony of asking a barman what he wanted to drink.

Clarence laughed warmly, watching him for a long moment. "I was thinking a beer would be nice...and the burgers sound nice too. What about you? What do you like to eat and drink?"

"Cocktails and chicken for me," Grayson smiled. "A little bit of what is bad for me, and, a little bit of what is good too," he continued to grin, "I'll be back in a moment. Any particular beer? I'm horrible with them since I don't like or drink beer."

"Just lager," he said as he watched Grayson, with a small smile. "Thank you...I appreciate you going and fetching..." he winked, sitting back.

"For you...anytime," Grayson winked back. A few moments later, he returned with their drinks, a lager for Clarence and Grayson's usual colourful concoction.

He smiled warmly, taking the lager from Grayson and sipping it from the bottle. "Mm...thanks, Grayson," he said as he winked, holding his eyes. "And that cocktail only lacks an umbrella."

"They only tend to get in the way," Grayson gave a soft chuckle. Suddenly, he went a bit quieter, a shyness crept in. For the first time in a long time, Grayson did not know what to say next that wouldn't be a total babble of incoherence. "Thank you for agreeing to go to dinner with me," Grayson managed out, very coy.

"I think I was the one who suggested it..." Clarence said softly, his eyes warm as he shrugged. "It's still nice. I mean, to get to know each other. Friends, that sort. This crew seems very...open. And flirtatious."

"Sorry, I didn't mean it to come out like that,' Grayson sighed, "I get nervous and babble sometimes. Yeah, friends," his heart sank a little, "but flirty is always good." Turning back into his confident self, he gave a very mischievous wink.

Clarence watched him, chuckling as he sipped his beer. "I suppose it is. And this is a very flirty ship. I've noticed anyway. It's good, everyone's really friendly and nice."

"Handsome too, in some cases...like yours," Grayson grinned, like hitting a ball out of the baseball park, he suddenly felt back on form.

"Or charmers, like you," Clarence countered with a nervous laugh. "I mean, I am not...you know...handsome. I'm a bit too ginger...not a great sight in the sun, I get all freckly..."

"To some of us, your very handsome, and, so far, fun to be with," Grayson took a sip of his drink, keeping his eyes on Clarence with a suggestive and mischievous glint. "We all have our flaws, its how we own them and deal with them that makes us all interesting and unique."

"Unique...yes..." Clarence chuckled at that before looking down. "You know, I...if you want this, I...us hanging out, I mean...I should tell you I spent some time in the looney bin."

"Well, you're here now and I would hope healthy and happy," Grayson smiled, reaching out to rest his hand on Clarence's arm in a reassuring way. "They way I see it is, our past is our past, it belongs there for a reason. It helps shape us, but thankfully does not define us."

"Ah..." Clarence smiled weakly, holding his eyes. "I disagree. I mean, because I am...well. Me. And that is me too, because I am okay but not...that great. I see counselors all the time. I have to keep in shape, eat well...that sort. Body balances the mind."

"That, I agree with," Grayson smiled, "I always try and eat well, pretty much find me in the gym all the time. It helps me relax and unwind."

Clarence smiled as he held his eyes, nodding as he watched him. "Not sure why I do it...I hate eating well, I love junk food and I love not working out..." he said playfully, winking pulling back a little with a smile. "So...what should we eat?"

"Something we will regret later?" Grayson winked back, giving Clarence's arm a little squeeze as he finally pulled it away. "We would need to hit the gym later though to...work it off," the suggestion in his voice was practically dripping from his lips.

Clarence watched him, chuckling nervously. "My...man...friend...I..." he bit his lip, shaking his head. "It's not that I don't...I mean, just the man-reaction I get at the thought but...I don't do...that...for awhile anyway. I mean, it's been awhile since..."

"Clarence," Grayson's hand returned to Clarence's arm, "chill." He hoped that would reassure him, maybe settle him down a little. "It is all just flirty talk. For that we take our time. Should the time come for us or not? Well, that's something the Temporal Mechanics division would answer. Let us just have a nice dinner, enjoy each other's company and take things as they come. Step at a time, no expectations."

"Okay..." he let out a breath, nodding as he held Grayson's eyes. "Sorry. I...am a lot better when I am behind the bar. A lot. One to one in...somewhere else, that's a bit daunting."

Grayson nodded, remembering his past, "I used to be a lot like that. Give me a hyperspanner and I am golden. Get me on a date, I used to shake like a tribble. You get there in time. Took me to realise I was the same person with a spanner as I am here now." He gave Clarence's arm a little squeeze, "Just remember, the man that stands behind the bar," he nodded in its direction, "is the man the totally charmed me and I still see him sitting before me."

Clarence swallowed as he watched him, his eyes gentle as he reached out, to take his hand. "Thank you," he said, meaning it as he let out a breath. "You're...special, Grayson. Very special. And kind. So...thank you for this. For trying to give me more confidence in a one to one situation."

"I don't think there is any trying about it," Grayson nodded to their now interlinked hands. "I know when I first started out I wouldn't have even done this."

"Why not?" he asked softly, watching Grayson closely. "I mean, you are nice. Very nice. Open, warm. Nice smile. You deserve so much."

"A long story for another day," Grayson gave a weary smile, thoughts of his long forgotten past fogged over his mind for a moment, it wasn't something he was quite ready to talk about yet. "Lets just say I made up for lost time in that respect. A little overzealous in it, but lost time none the less. Looking to do things right from now on."

Clarence nodded as he smiled, gently, with a reassuring nod. "You're on the right path then, Grayson. Can't complain on that. No one can."

Giving a more cheery smile, Grayson nodded. This would be his ideal moment to go in for a small kiss, having no idea how Clarence would react, he guessed it would not go down well. He was so desperate to though, having been enjoying the company, Grayson knew no other way to express it.

Throwing caution to the wind, he went for Plan B, he leant in slightly and gave a small, delicate kiss on Clarence's cheek. "I'm sorry," Grayson began, slightly full of remorse, "I just had too, your too sweet and I am really enjoying our time together so far." Instantly he began to blush and clenched his body, waiting for rejection and for his affection's recipient to run out of the door, probably screaming and vowing never to look at him in the eye again. No one can say Grayson didn't have a flare for the dramatic anyway.

"It's okay," Clarence said, surprised, watching him with confusion. "It's okay, it's...sweet. It's not bad. It wasn't your tongue down my throat because if it was, I'd be sinking under the table with fear of physical touchy touch..." he teased, relaxing as he watched him.

"Not to scare you, but the thought crossed my mind for a second," he blushed, "I'm glad I didn't now."

Clarence smiled gently, nodding as he watched him for a long moment. "I think it was...decent enough to gamble on that. We're okay...and should do this again."

"I think so too," Grayson grinned, plotting kiss number two for what he hoped would be a future date.

OFF:

Lieutenant Grayson Jones
Assistant Chief Engineering Officer
USS Galileo

&

Clarence Pearl
Mixologist
USS Galileo
[PNPC Markos]

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